November 28, 2006

 

Philippine poultry raisersto eye more export markets next year

 

 

After a setback followingthe low pathogenic bird flu infection, the country's poultry sector nowanticipates an exciting rebound in chicken yakitori export to Asia, MiddleEast, and Europe, reports the Manila Bulletin daily.

 

San Miguel Foods Inc and Tyson Agro Ventures Inc (TAVI) are resumingexport to Japan and see a slow but definitely promising expansion.

 

Philippine Associationof Broiler Integrators president Rita Imelda Palabyab said that this year'spoultry exports¡ªranging from one to two million kilogrammes--is relatively smallbut they aim to grow by five to six times more next year to cope withinternational demand.

 

She added that even if Thailand resumesraw chicken exports, other markets such as Japan would certainly go for chickenfrom the Philippines.

 

Edwin Chen, TAVIdirector, said TAVI has planned a re-entry to Japan from its plant in Bulacanand Southern Tagalog which have been recognized to produceinternationally-acceptable products by the National Meat Inspection Service.

 

However, Chennoted that exporting yakitori to Japan is critical as the Japanese is veryprecise in its weight orders and violation would mean prohibition or shippingback the products from its port of origin.

 

If export accelerates,TAVI may be expanding its Bulacan plant which has a capacity of 8,000 to 10,000birds per hour, and its Southern Tagalog plant, from the present 5,000 to 6,000birds per hour.

 

The Philippines first penetrated the Japan market with 1,500tonnes export in 2004, following strict quarantine standards right after theoutbreak of bird flu in Asia in the last quarter of 2003.

 

Palabyab and Chensaid integrators see a 15 to 20 percent growth in poultry production owing tothe export potential based on the projected 2005 broiler production of 600,457tonnes the Department of Agriculture reported.

 

Such growth isprompting TAVI to import more grandparent stocks (breeders) maybe a little morethan last year.

TAVI is alsoeyeing the export of parent stocks to take full advantage of the country'sbeing bird flu free.

However, feed supply, particularly corn's price, iscritical.

 

The bird flu freestatus of the country's virtually the only chicken exporter in southeast-asiato have stayed bird flu-free all this time is expected to create additionalmarkets besides Japan.